Sunday, February 3, 2013

Muhammad Ali’s brother says the ailing boxing icon
is on the verge of death — and his final days are being marred by a bitter
family feud fuelled by his wife. The former heavyweight champion, 71, is
gripped by Parkinson’s and Rahman Ali
fears he is in terminal decline.

But
the 69-year-old said the disease is NOT the most devastating factor
in Ali’s heartbreaking demise. He blames Lonnie,
his wife of 26 years, for tearing the family apart and said Ali would be “mad as hell” if he knew what was going on.

He said, “The worst thing to happen is
not the illness, but his wife”. In an exclusive interview, Rahman broke
down in tears as he admitted he would rather his brother died now so he can
escape his suffering.

Frail ...
Muhammad Ali and wife Lonnie at a 2010 event to boost awareness of organ
donation in Toronto

Rahman revealed:

My brother can’t speak — he doesn’t
recognise me. He’s in a bad way. He’s very sick. It could be months, it could
be days. I don’t know if he’ll last the summer. He’s in God’s hands. We hope he
gently passes away.

“He told me before he got really bad that he’s in no pain. He grabbed my arm
and whispered, ‘Rah, I’ve achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to accomplish.
Don’t cry for me, I’m in no pain.’ It’s best he goes now. The longer he goes
on, so does his suffering and misery

“He’s going to heaven, there’s no
doubt. If his funeral was tomorrow, all the statesmen of the world would turn
up. He touched everyone from the rich to the poor.

“I love my brother over anybody. Of
all the famous people who ever lived, he’s the best. Everyone knows Muhammad
Ali. He’s up there with Jesus Christ.

“I cry because it hurts me, it
breaks my heart. I hope to see him again alive, but I can only hope.”

Proud ... Rahman Ali with family snap

Family ...
pair with their parents in 1967

Rahman last saw Ali in London in July at the Sports For Peace Gala to pay
tribute to his incredible career and dedication to the civil rights movement.
He even spoke on behalf of his beloved brother at the star-studded event at the
Victoria and Albert Museum.

But
he claims he has been cut from dad-of-nine Ali’s life and blames his fourth
wife Lonnie. He now speaks to ailing Ali only by phone.

Close ...
young brothers in Kentucky in 1946

Speaking
from his dingy two-bed flat in Louisville, Rahman said: “We’ve all been pushed
out. The only time I get to see him is at public events. She and her family are
draining him. It’s so sad. There’s nothing I can do, they’ve blocked us all
off.

“Before he got sick he told me, ‘Rahman, I’ve set up a trust fund for you after
I die, you get the money.’ But she’s put a stop to it.

My brother
... Rahman and wife Caroline with Muhammad Ali

“If
he knew what was happening and where I’m living now, he’d be as mad as hell, so
angry. He’d divorce her. If he saw what was happening with his children, he’d
go crazy.”

Ali’s
biological children are all from previous relationships and some share Rahman’s
anger. Muhammad Ali Jnr, 30, who
lives in a drug-infested area of Chicago, barely sees his father and has
claimed he’s been “blocked”. Rahman revealed: “I spoke to Muhammad Ali Jnr last week,
as he was concerned about his dad. They’ve all tried to get in contact with
him. She’ll put him on the phone sometimes, but he can only breathe on the
line.

“I know him better than anyone, I can sense he’s unhappy. I can see it in his
eyes. “I
love him, but she stops him from loving anyone. This is the saddest thing in my
life. I’m going to let God take care of it — he’s the best attorney anyone can
have”.

Ali and Rahman’s childhood home in Louisville

The
brothers — born Cassius and Rudolph Clay — grew up in the same bedroom of a
humble two-bedroom home in Louisville, Kentucky, with dad Cassius Clay Snr and
mum Odessa.

They
were inseparable as youngsters and joined the local boxing league together.

Rahman — who like Ali adopted a
Muslim name — also became a heavyweight fighter in his youth and has suffered
from brain illness in later life.

But
while his boxing great brother is worth more than £50million, Rahman and his church minister wife
Caroline live off a pittance.

He
revealed: “I haven’t got much money
and I’m on disability benefits. I’ve had many strokes, 20 in all, and it’s
affected my brain and short-term memory. The doctor told me I’m lucky to be
alive — I should be dead. Every day is a blessing to me.

Broken Lamp

“We’ve barely got enough to pay our bills. The rent is $512 a month, and if
we’re lucky, we may have $150 left after bills. “If my brother had all his
faculties, he’d look after me. I’d be living in a mansion.”

Their
childhood home is in a state of neglect but Rahman revealed Ali wants to be
buried in Louisville with a quote from civil rights leader Martin Luther King
Jr on his headstone.

He
said: “This is his hometown. He’d want to be buried in the cemetery with mum
and dad. On his tombstone, he said he wanted the Martin Luther King quote, ‘I
tried to love somebody, I did try to feed the hungry. I did try, in my life, to
clothe those who were naked. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve
humanity.’ The Greatest.”’

Falling away ... roof of house

Ali’s appearance at last year’s Olympic opening ceremony in London alongside
wife Lonnie touched hundreds of
millions around the world. And Rahman
told how Ali always knew he was
destined for greatness.

He revealed:

“When he was six, he’d tell me he
was going to be world champion. He said he was going to be famous, was going to
change the world, said he’d look after me, my mum and dad.

“And everything he said, he did. He
achieved all his dreams.

“How the hell did he know at six
that he was going to do all this? Only him and the Holy Spirit knows. He may be
dying, but he’ll live on.

“You know the word ‘infinite’?
That’s Ali, he’s infinite. His name will last forever.”

1 comment
:

Why am I not surprised by this. I saw The Greatest at the London Olympics opening ceremony and wondered. Why is he there? He should have been at home relaxing, but no doubt his wife pushed him out on the publicity trail. Like The Greatest needs the publicity or money.